Horses Arabian

What should QHs look like when they're being ridden under english?

I just purchased this QH mare about 3-4 months ago to use for shows. Mainly for western pleasure and showmanship at halter. I just got into competing pleasure over the summer and got this mare just for that since I really enjoyed. I've ridden english before, but it's not my fave and I enjoy western more, but I want to compete in english to "broaden my horizons" and learn more! This mare has been used for english before and did pretty well, but she had only been ridden a couple times a year for the last year or so due to divorce on the owner.The owner only did western pleasure/horsemanship and showmanship at halter with her, her daughter was the one who did some english with her. So when she was ridden, she was only ridden western for the daughter dropped horseback riding all together. I've ridden her once in english since I got her and I wasn't really paying attention to how she looked since I was trying to get used to english (I only ride english once in a while). Now, I'm planning on definitley showing her in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) in western pleasure, western horsemanship, and showmanship at halter. Maybe english. Either way, I'm still planning on showing her in english through 4-H and if I can get far enough, I will do english with her in state through 4-H. So, what are Quarter Horses supposed to looke like when they're ridden english? Are they supposed to have their head curved like an Arabian, or straight just like they would while being ridden western? Also, do think it'd be a good idea to show her western and english in AQHA? I really want to get far in western since we both enjoy it so much, so would it screw her up if I did both? Thank you soo much! All answers appreciated! I'm open to anything-videos, pics, advice, anything! I'm also looking into a trainer for western and english since I'm new to the whole pleasure thing (I used to be a hardcore trail rider and gamer), but stil, anything and everything is appreciated!

Public Comments

1. The frame of your horse should be very similar to how she looks when doing WP. The difference is that she should move out more (with a longer stride) and may have a slightly raised (or closer to level) topline--not quite as low. You'll see a lot of WP-type horses going in the HUS, but the top HUS horses really do move out quite a bit more. The neck should not be arched at all; the nose should be vertical or slightly out. The reins should be looser (less contact) than you'll see at a regular English show; the horses are more level rather than elevated like you might see at a h/j show or dressage show or something. Showing English shouldn't hurt her performance in WP. If you're trying to go to Worlds in HUS, then yes, you might have to sacrifice her WP movement as you would have to teach her to really reach out and move forward for HUS. However, there are some horses athletic enough to do both--the key is to teach them different cues for different things (a slow WP jog vs. a more extended trot) so that instead of just doing it one way, they can alter their movement depending on what you ask for. My horse has a pretty nice WP jog (still a little quick, but I don't think that's totally due to being shown in HUS) but can move out very nicely for HUS--and then come right back. Many others can, too. If she's naturally slow, it should be easier to teach her to move out (not faster, necessarily, just forward) instead of having to slow her down (which is actually harder for the horse). Just go back and forth when you ride--don't quit riding western and only ask her for a HUS trot for months and then expect her to go back to a WP jog or lope. Instead, ride her normally and then ask for a long trot (if you're riding western) or try her in English and ask her to move out--then ask her to come back. Teach her that her job is to respond to you, not to just move in a certain way. For my horse, if I'm really focusing on one thing, I'll ride him that way (WP or HUS) most of the time and throw in the other just occasionally to remind him how to do it--so while he might go further in one then the other, he can show in both without embarrassing anyone (and usually does okay). As for the 4-H, show in it--but keep in mind what your state "standards" are before you use it as a measure of how ready she is. Our 4-H program is all about the QH's (judged as if it were an AQHA HUS class), so a non-QH-type horse won't do well. Here, if your horse does well at the state level in 4-H HUS, the horse will probably do well at the QH shows. But some states are total opposites and the "AQHA type" HUS is not what they look for (usually states with bigger h/j programs and such--which mine isn't)--so if that's the case in your state, your horse might do terrible there even though he's capable of doing well at a QH show. Just be aware of that when you measure your horse against how well she does there. I think you should definitely go for it--you have the show experience, the horse has the experience, and it doesn't matter if she's more of a western horse and isn't going to win the HUS at the World show anytime soon--you can still enter a HUS class and probably do pretty well if she's a very consistent, steady mover. EDIT: I disagree with the person who says you should wait to start showing, or not show because your horse isn't the highest level. It sounds like your horse is fairly experienced, even if you haven't been showing her long--so she knows what she's doing and unless you drop western completely and only school English, she's not going to "forget" how to be a WP horse and can easily add a HUS or eq class to the list at the next show. You don't have to be ready for the World show to enter a QH show. And the judge doesn't care whether you know what your horse is supposed to look like, as long as the horse does--so if the horse knows her job, go for it. You can obviously ride and show or you wouldn't be already doing it; a HUS class is not a whole lot different in terms of how it's ridden. The movement is different, but you'll see plenty of WP type horses at the smaller QH shows in there and there's nothing wrong with that. So you might not win--big deal. If your horse is a nice WP horse, you will not embarrass yourself in a HUS class--even if she doesn't move out a whole lot. Just ride her the same way with very little contact, same frame--and encourage her to step out a bit more.
2. Best way to know what it looks like-youtube. I love watching horse videos, and your really learn alot. Just search AQHA english. ( not saying you dont know what your doing, but from what I read this is what I think) Just from reading this is sounds like you dont really know what your doing. You dont even know where there head set should be?? Go to a few AQHA shows before you start. Also ( still thinking you dont know what your doing) AQHA is top notch, high level, very nice push button horses. Most horses are worth a min of 10,000, many other 5x that. Right now I show AQHA western pleasure. I want to start english next show season. My trainer says its fine, and wont screw up any horse. BUT, a few years ago I wanted to start English when my horse was young and still learning, my trainer told me no. It would slow down training, and he wont be half way in both classes. So I would suggest start showing what ever you and your horse are best at. Once you feel confident showing, you can start other classes.
3. Are you gonna show in Hunter Under Saddle? In AQHA, the HUS look is more Quarter Horse-like than in an open show. She'd probably have better luck in a small AQHA show than a bigger open breed show as the frame is different. She should already have the long and low look if she's used for WP. You just need a more lively and extended trot, and a canter that has more air time on the front end. She should look like this. Open HUS, http://sommerponyfarm.com/sprocket072806.jpg AQHA HUS, http://www.winningedgefarm.com/UserFiles/Resources/Images/Kelsie%20(B).jpg Videos: AQHA HUS, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXp27hP2dsE&feature=fvw